Science fiction: the recipe for dreams.

Outer space. Since the dawn of Man its mysteries have instilled in us a deep sense of curiosity, wonderment and creativity. This is the root of mythology's greatness, and even though it's real, outer space's mysteries, distance from us and vast size and beauty help it assume mythological status. Are we alone in the universe? Could we survive on any other planet? What secrets do Earth's fellow planets hold that can help us understand more about ourselves and our world? Scientists, astronauts, astronomers, engineers and the like have made countless breakthroughs in their respective fields by trying to answer these and many other questions, but for me the greatest thing we have outer space to thank for is science fiction. To many it is just a genre, but (and while I usually love cinema, literature and TV in general) for me it is something very sacred that has strongly influenced my life (and I know that kinda makes me seem like a middle-aged freeloader still living with his parents (and FTR I'm not), but life's too short to be self-conscious). Here’s why it rules the genres for me.


Firstly, a little backstory. I'm the nerd son of a nerd father (fuck, the first time I ever heard the words science fiction they came out of his mouth but mind you, we have one profound difference taste-wise: I'm a Star Wars nut and – you guessed it – he's a Trekkie) and a mother who have always unconditionally loved, supported and encouraged me to be myself. I'm their youngest child, too (and my dad was his parents' youngest also, haha), and last-borns are often the most creative kids (http://hubpages.com/hub/How-Birth-Order-Affects-Your-Childs-Psychological-Development). Plus, for reasons too personal and boring, for much of my school days I was a bully-magnet (but what doesn't kill me only strengthens me), so frequently as a kid I needed escapism. In 1997 when I was nearly 9, my uncle (and fortunately this was before I grew up and realized what a fucking wanker he is – plus I’d say a few people would understandably blame him for this) took my brother and I to the movies to see Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Suffice to say, while I consider SW to be space fantasy more than anything my life changed dramatically from that day on and if someone insults the original trilogy in my presence I'm liable to make them cry. That was just the start of my lifelong love of SF as I've since become a proud, devoted nerd by branching out into speculative fiction in general. Now for why SF is to me the best genre of all.

Those oblivious to SF's wonders usually write it off as superficial, juvenile bullshit and while sometimes it is (fuck you, Michael Bay), what they do not realize is that the best SF merely makes you really search for its emotional and thematic depth, and SF in general is a pretty thickskinned genre anyway. As Adam Roberts writes, "science fiction is at its heart a metaphorical literature, one that aims to represent the world without reproducing it."* Yes, other genres try to provide accurate depictions of our world, but usually in much less unique and versatile ways. It needn't be said that SF can fire our imaginations visually, but it hardly stops there. SF can also be epic, like Dune and 2001: A Space Odyssey (I'm not that keen on it but you can't argue with the classics – and avoid the movie of Dune at all costs). It can be hilarious, like Back to the Future, Men in Black and Galaxy Quest. The Forever War, The Dispossessed and Children of Men (see 2001) are masterpieces of unapologetically angry SF. Classics like The Matrix expose SF's philosophical depths. Dystopia is a social issue prevalent in masterworks like Blade Runner, Minority Report and Fahrenheit 451. SF can also examine how the mind works, like in Akira and A Clockwork Orange. Blowing to smithereens the theory that SF only appeals to men, Alien, Aliens (these also being the seminal SF horror flicks – the other two are shit), Ghost in the Shell and Appleseed are populated by tough and complex heroines, and it can be romantic, such as Avatar and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Then there is SF that's simultaneously aesthically pleasing and deeply moving, like E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, A. I. Artificial Intelligence and The Truman Show. Finally SF can teach us timeless and universal messages about our relationships with technology and nature, like in James Cameron's Terminator films and Jurassic Park respectively. Can/does any other genre do all these things, or at least as successfully? I don't think so.

Of course, the sad truth is that SF is, well, fiction. But what it may lack in realism it more than makes up for in escapist fun and intellectual stimulation. These, in turn, at their most exhilarating and potent can fire our imaginations like a spark starts a fire. Haters can hate, but this is a priceless feeling that nothing or nobody can diminish or take from us, and art is meant to entertain AND educate, not just one or the other. Good SF can uplift us, help us better understand our world and every creature in it, show us how we can make a difference and it has given nerds worldwide strong power and influence. But perhaps most significantly, SF can make us believe the impossible. Just take a look up at the stars... ours is truly a galaxy of infinite beauty and possibility, isn't it?

* Roberts, A. 2009, Introduction, in Haldeman, J. 1974, The Forever War, SF Masterworks edition, 2010, Gollancz.